Portland Timbers Soccer History Top 5 Players

Although the Portland Timbers have only been in the MLS for less than one complete season, the organization has had its lion’s share of star players who have worn a Timbers jersey since reaching the 1975 NASL Bowl in the team’ first season in existence.

Let’s take a look at my Top 5 Timbers Soccer Players of All Time!

Perhaps no one single player in Timbers history stands out more than Scottish-born midfielder John Bain, who in five seasons, scored 45 goals and added 55 assists in 148 games, becoming that team’s all-time leading scorer and assist leader.

Portland Timbers Soccer History Top 5 Players

Next on the list is defender Graham Day who appeared in 135 North American Soccer League matches in a Timbers’ kit, scoring 11 times, including a goal as Portland took the first of four Rose Cups in the five-year competition.

Remembered for being player’s player and a true gentlemen of the sport is Irishman James Patrick “Jimmy” Conway. After a stint with Manchester City he helped Fulham reach the 1975 FA Cup Final beforearriving in Portland in 1978 where he spent three seasons before becoming a player-coach, appearing in 61 matches while netting seven goals.

Acquiring the nicknames, “The Wizard of Nod” and the “Mad Header”, Peter Withe was the undisputed hero of an 1975 NASL expansion Timbers side that won their division en route to a tie for the league best record of 16–6.

Withe had scored 17 goals from just 22 games heading into the playoffs, adding the decider in a 1-0 victory in the second of two first-round playoff games against Seattle.

Finally, rounding out our top five is center-forward Ronald Futcher who is the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, making over 400 appearances in total for nine different clubs, including 23 with Portland where he scored a team-best 15 goals in 1982.